Process for the treatment of matte from blast furnaces



March 25 "1924 1,488,047

. J. H. HICKEY PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF MATTE FROM BLAST FURNACES Filed Oct. 1, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. H. HICKEY PROCESS FOR.'THE TREATMENT OF MATTE FROM BLAST FURNACES March 25 19 24.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 061;. 1, 1918 Patented Mar. 25 1924.

UNITED STATES JOHN H. HICKEY, OF GOLD GREEK, MONTANA.

PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT or MATTE FROM BLAST summons.

Application filed October 1,-1918. Serial No. 256,461.

To all whom it may concern:

useful Improvements inv Processes for the Treatment of Matte from Blast Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel process for the treatment of matte from blast fur- One of the objects of the present invention is to reduce the cost of handling matte now incurred preparatory to its being retreated in the blast furnace.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate or drive off the sulphur content of the matte to such an extent that it will not be necessary to reroastthe matte.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the cost of crushing and sampling of the matte.

Another object of the invention is to devise a novel process for disintegrating the molten matte immediately prior to delivery of the same between crushing rolls so that the crushing or granulating operation may be more readily and effectually performed than where the matte is introduced between such rolls in relatively large lumps as in the ordinary processes for treatment of this material. For example, in the ordinary processes the matte after separation from the slag and cooling is in relatively large masses and heavy and expensive crushing machinery must be employed in order to crush or granulate the same to a size suitable for its future treatment in the blast furnace, whereas'by the process of the present invention the molten matte is directed against the rolls by a blast of air which serves not only to chill the molten matte but also to disintegrate the same by breaking up the stream of molten material into relatively small globules or-lumps in which form it 'may' be more readily crushed or granulated by the rolls and less ponderous machinery is required to effect its granulation.

Inthe accompanying drawings which illustrate an apparatus especially adapted for the carrying out of the process,

Figure 1 is a. View partly in side elevation and partly inlongitudinal section illustrating the apparatus in operation;

Fig. 2 is a substantially vertical sectional view on the line 2 -2 of Fig. 1;

F ig. 3 is a vertical front to rear sectional view through the crushing rolls of the apparatus.

The drawings illustrate a preferred form of apparatus for carryin out the process of the present invention and forms the subjectmatter'of my divisional application, filed October 9, 1919, Serial No. 329,482, and said apparatus consists, generally speaking, of crushing rolls which operate within a closed chamber which collects the sulphur gases or fumes driven off from the matte in the carrying out of the process, means for delivering a stream of the molten matte into the chamber in front of the rolls, means for delivering a. blast of air into the chamber and against the stream of molten matte, and means for collecting the matte after it has passed between the rolls and has been re duced to granular form. In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates suitable pillow blocks upon which are mounted pedestals 2 having upper and lower aligned bearings? and 4, in which bearings are journaled the shafts for the upper and lower crushing rolls. The said rolls are indicated by the numerals 5 and 6, respectively, and their re spective shafts are indicated by the numerals 7 and 8. The said rolls are cylindrical and it is preferable that the roll 5 be provided at each end with a peripheral flange 9, the said flanges extending at the opposite ends of the roll 6 whereby to prevent relative dis placement of the rolls. In order that the rolls may be maintained at a relatively low degree of temperature and to prevent them becoming overheated through the contact therewith of the hot matte delivered between them, each roll is formed interiorly with a. circumferentially extending water or air jacket 10, and one head of each roll is formed with a water or air passage 11 opening into the water jacket 10 and communicating with a similar passage 12 formed in the corresponding end of the shaft 7 or 8, as the case may be. The other head of each roll is formed with a. passage 13 opening into the water a-cket and communicating with a similar passage 14: formed in the correspond ing end of the respective shaft. A water or air supply pipe, indicated by the numeral 15 leads from any suitable-source of water or air supply and has branches 16 and 17 connected by any suitable couplings 18 and 19 with the first mentioned ends of the shafts 7-and 8. The branches of a discharge or outlet pipe 20 are connected by suitable couplings 21 and 22 to the other ends of the shafts '7 and 8 respectively, and this pipe 20 leads to any point where the air or water may be conveniently discharged. It will be understood, of course, that there is a constant flow of water or air from the pipe into the water jackets 10 of the two rolls and from these water jackets out through the pipe so that the rolls are kept at a relatively low temperature and cannot become overheated. In order that the rolls may be driven, they are geared with a power shaft 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and by any desired arrangement of gear mechanism. In the present instance a drive belt 24 is trained over a pulley 25 upon the shaft 23 and over a pulley 26 upon one end of the shaft 7 for the upper roll, and similarly a crossed belt 27 is trained over a pulley 28 upon the drive shaft 23 and over a similar pulley 29 upon the shaft 8 for the lower roll. In this manner rotary motion is imparted to the rolls.

As before stated, the molten matte is directed or delivered to the rolls by a blast of air which serves not only to chill and disintegrate the stream of molten matte but also to drive off the sulphur gases or fumes, and in order that these gases may be collected and discharged from the vicinity of the rolls and the molten matte, the said rolls are enclosed within a chamber or housing, indicated in general by the numeral 30. A pipe 31 leads from the top of this chamber and serves to carry off the gases or fumes collected in the said chamber. The chamber is provided with a downwardly inclined top wall section 32 having an opening 33 through which the molten matte may be poured, and arranged within this opening 33 at the forward side thereof is a bafiie plate 34 which is inclined downwardly into the chamber and has its lower edge located opposite but asuitable distance above the point of peripheral contact of the rolls with each other, the said edge of the plate being, furthermore, suitably spaced in advance of the said rolls. The numeral 35 indicates a compressed air sup ply main from any suitable source of supply, and the numeral 36 indicates a blast pipe which leads from the main and has its discharge end or nozzle 37 extending into the chamber 30 through the forward wall there of, the dischargeend of the nozzle being located immediately below and slightly in rear of the lower edge of the baffle plate 34.

Before proceeding to a description of the carrying out of the process embodying the invention, the remainder of the apparatus will be described. -The numeral 38 indicates an endless conveyor belt having pan sections '39 thereon, and this belt is trained about claimed as new is:

beneath the open lower end of the casing comprising the chamber 30. Either of the shafts may be driven in any convenient manner and in the present drawings the shaft 40 is driven by a belt 42 from the power shaft 23. Material conveyed by the pan sections 39 to a point beyond the forward side of the chamber 30, is delivered to an inclined conveyor or elevator 43 which as it is of an ordinary type, need not be specifically described, and this latter conveyor or elevator is designed to deliver the material into a bin 44 from which it may be conveniently discharged into a railway car or other receiving agency indicated by the numeral 45.

In order to free the crushing rolls of any particles of matte adhering thereto, scrapers 46 and 47 are provided for 'eoaction with the rolls 5 and 6 respectively, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, these scrapers having relatively sharp engaging edges 48 resting in contact with the surfaces of the rethe numeral 50, and the pot will be carried to substantially the position shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings and will then be tilted so as to pour the molten matte in a steady and even stream on to the baflle plate 34. As the stream of molten matte fiows over the edge of this plate it will receive the force of the blast of air from the nozzle 37 and the air blast will serve to not only disintegrate the molten material but also to drive off there-- from substantially all of the sulphur content. As before stated, the parts are so positioned that the air blast striking the stream of mol ten matte will disintegrate the stream and blow the particles toward the rolls and deliver the same between the said rolls where the particles will be crushed and consequently further reduced in size. After passtherefrom into the matte bin 44, and finally delivered into the car or other receptacle 45 in which it may be conveyed to the blast furnace for further treatment. Through natural or forced draft, the sulphur fumes driven ofi" from the matte by the blast of air, will be delivered from the. chamber 30 through the discharge pipe 31 and may be disposed o-fas found most desirable.

Having thus described the invention, what 1. The stepin a process for the treatment of matte'to granulate and desulphurize the same, which consists in directing a blast of a fluid under pressure against a flowing stream of the molten matte whereby to disintegrate the stream and drive oil the sulphur content of the matte.

2. The steps in a. process for the treatment of matte to granulate and desulphurize the same, which consistsin directing a blast of fluid under pressure against a flowing stream of the molten matte, whereby to disintegrate the stream and drive off the sulphur content of the matte, and conducting away from the stream the vaporized sulphur content.

3. The steps in a process for the treatment of matte to granulate and desulphurize the same, which consists in directing a blast of a fluid under pressure against a flowing stream of the matte to disintegrate the stream and drive off the sulphur content of the matte, and then crushing the resulting hardened particles of matte.

4. The steps in a process for the treatment of matte to granulate and desulphurize the same, which consist in producing a flowing stream of the molten matte, and directing a blast of air against the flowing stream wherebyto distinte rate the stream, chill the matte, and drive 0% the sulphur content of the matte.

5. The steps in a process for the treatment of matte to granulate and desulphurize the same, which consist in producing a flowing stream of the molten matte, and directing a blast of a fluid under pressure against the stream to disintegrate the stream and direct and deliver the same tomeans for crushing the resulting chilled particles of matte.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN H. HICKEY. [1 s.] 

